'Heads to roll' at ITV over phone scandal

ITV boss Michael Grade is expected to sack 'several' senior executives over the phone-in scandals that have rocked the television industry over the past six months

Mr Grade is understood to be keen to 'make examples' of those held responsible following an investigation into the phone-in debacle for programmes such as The X Factor, GMTV and the ITV Play late-night quiz programmes.

The ITV chairman commissioned a report from accountants Deloitte and Touche into all programmes with phone-ins that the network has broadcast over the past two years, after several shows were revealed to have run competitions improperly.

The Mail on Sunday understands that Mr Grade is already aware of some of Deloitte's findings and is determined to act swiftly in an effort to restore public trust in the channel.

ITV has pledged to publish findings from the report in October, and a spokesman insisted the report has not yet been delivered to Mr Grade. But other sources say he has seen the report and the findings are 'absolutely devastating'.

Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, The X Factor and ITV Play are all understood to be programmes that will be criticised directly.

All the major TV channels have been embarrassed by revelations over phone-ins that began when The Mail on Sunday exposed Channel 4's The Richard And Judy Show for encouraging viewers to call premium-rate phone lines after all the winners had been chosen.

Similar practices emerged at GMTV, and managing director Paul Corley and director of phone-ins Kate Fleming both resigned.

One source said: "My understanding is that Michael Grade has seen the report, or at least an early version of it, and it is absolutely devastating.

"Michael Grade wants to take decisive action and he believes that commissioning editors and ITV network executives are just as responsible as those who make the programmes. Some of the programmes are very high-profile and some are made by outside production companies.

"But he thinks people who commission and oversee programmes should take responsibility for what's happened. Several flagship shows are mentioned in the report and some people will be very worried."

Another source said: "People don't expect ITV Play to be on air next year. It's too closely associated with the phone-in problems and it's not even making much money any more."

They will discuss how much viewers need to be told about how programmes are made, and discuss training practices.

An ITV spokesman said: "This process is still ongoing. We are not prepared to speculate on what the report contains. We will publish the findings in October and Deloitte are still working on it. It's not on Michael's desk."

The spokesman said that 'no decision' had been taken over the future of ITV Play.

Revenues slumped dramatically as viewers stopped calling premium-rate numbers when it was revealed that most had no chance of getting on air.